Political Quotes

“I listened to some of the remarks of the distinguished Senator from Vermont and friend. I think we are both trying to find a path forward to move our appropriations bill, but we are not there yet. This afternoon, I urge my colleagues to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R. 2740, the first package of appropriations bills sent over by the U.S. House of Representatives. This package includes the Defense; Energy and Water; Labor, HHS, and Education; and State-Foreign Operations appropriations bills. My Democratic colleagues have said they are opposed to proceeding to this package because we must pass domestic spending bills before we pass the Defense bill, but this package before us right now does both. In fact, it accounts for more than 40 percent of domestic spending. As I said before, it mirrors the package sent to us by Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic-controlled House. So this excuse, I believe, for delaying consideration of this package doesn't hold water this afternoon. We need to move the process forward. I want to make a few points about the Senate versions of these bills that we will bring up if we invoke cloture today. Last week, the Appropriations Committee reported the Defense and Energy and Water bills. The Energy and Water bill, as Senator Leahy has just remarked, garnered unanimous support. My Democratic colleagues similarly praised the bipartisan nature of the Defense bill. Yet they voted against it in the committee.…”